Belonepterygion fasciolatum or "Red Banded Hi-fin Dottyback"

DensityMan

DensityMan

Active member
Hey all. Looking for a little help with a Belonepterygion fasciolatum or "Red Banded Hi-fin Dottyback" - a roundhead fish closely related to the dottybacks, the marine betta, the soapfishes and other members of the Order Perciformes ("perch-like" fish).

Click here to read the original thread, before I knew its species, for the full background and pictures.

I know all the 'rules' about researching before buying, but we all fall prey to the desire occasionally (and this guy needed help), so we can skip all the brow-beating and name-calling and assume I feel bad already. ;)

Looking specifically for any info on diet and lifestyle (so pretty much anything). Details on the web are sales oriented (found two listings of the fish for sale as it's common and sci names - one was at the Marine Center) and I'm still waiting for Scott Michael's "Reef Fishes - volume 2". Haven't found a listing in any of the books available to me at work either.

Currently he spends all of the daylight hours under a mat of turf-algae and refuses to even act interested in any foods provided (so far I've tried spiralina-enriched brine and cyclop-eeze). If his cover is removed he imediately goes into slow-panic mode digging his lower jaw against the sand until he hits the glass and the curling up into a ball to await his imagined doom...

Anyone have any experiences with this fish?

Thanks in advance,
 
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hey I got one of these. Join the club! anyway, theyre native to japan and I believe are collected from tidal zones. They are gorgeous fishes but are extremely shy. Good luck ever seeing one. It will hide in a rock all day long. Im not too sure what they eat but mine eats whatever I put in the tank. Its been said they dont last long in aquaria but Ive had mine for a good4-6months. Im not too sure. neway, thats all I can come up with, pm me if u need nething that I actually know. hth:D
 
Hi here is the answer of one of our specialist Joachim Grosskopf>

Hallo Peter,
es gibt zwei Farbvarianten, eine graue und diese aquaristisch "neue" rote. Vielleicht auch zwei Arten. Die neuen Roten sollen von Hallo Peter,
es gibt zwei Farbvarianten, eine graue und diese aquaristisch "neue" rote. Vielleicht auch zwei Arten. Die neuen Roten sollen von NeuGuinea/Salomon-Inseln stammen. Siehe auch Burgesss Atlas Seite212.Allen beschreibt Verbreitung Lord-Howe-Inseln, West und Ostküste-, Tropen, Suptropen Australien. Daher sind die Importe aber nicht, erfolgen wohl über Indonesien. Genaueres erfahre ich aber noch. Ähnlich Pseudochromidae, aber Familie Acanthoclinidae (Spiny Basslets), 3 Gattungen (gesamt 5 Arten!) von Indien bis zu den Marshall Inseln.
Bekomme von dem Großhändler bei dem ich mitarbeite nächste Woche 2, die schon einige Wochen gehältert sind, aber ein so zurückgezogen lebendes Fischchen habe ich noch nie gesehen.
Gruß Joachim stammen. Siehe auch Burgesss Atlas Seite212.Allen beschreibt Verbreitung Lord-Howe-Inseln, West und Ostküste-, Tropen, Suptropen Australien. Daher sind die Importe aber nicht, erfolgen wohl über Indonesien. Genaueres erfahre ich aber noch. Ähnlich Pseudochromidae, aber Familie Acanthoclinidae (Spiny Basslets), 3 Gattungen (gesamt 5 Arten!) von Indien bis zu den Marshall Inseln.
Bekomme von dem Großhändler bei dem ich mitarbeite nächste Woche 2, die schon einige Wochen gehältert sind, aber ein so zurückgezogen lebendes Fischchen habe ich noch nie gesehen.
Gruß Joachim

Translation summary:

There are two diffrent color forms found a grey version and the new imported red version which might even be two diffrent species. The red version is supposed to come from NeuGuinea / Salomon-Inseln .

Thez are similar to Pseudochromidae, but belong to the family Acanthoclinidae (Spiny Basslets), 3 Genus (with in total 5 species!) from India up to the Marshall Islands.

Please also see Burgesss page 212.

Allen descibes they are found at Lord-Howe-Island, West und East cost -, tropic and sub tropic Australia.

The current imports are not from Australia but most likly form Indonesia. He will get more details soon as he will receive two of this fish in the next weeks for him self. He remarks already that he has never seen such a hidden and shy fish befor.
 
Thanks for more details Peter and supernip!

I have had to make due with putting his hideout against the glass and leaving just enough room to view. Hopefully he is hungry enough to eat on Monday regardless of shyness...
 
yours isnt eating brine you say? Hows the pod population in your tank? I have a feeling mine lives off mostly pods as he was full and healthy when i moved him. Live brine shot directly at the entrance seems to work for me, especially with the overall darkness of my room/ his hide out. shy little buggers :/ May I ask how much it was btw?
 
My pods are far more scarce, but I added him and Wyatt (the tiniest goby - sailfin) at the same time and know that the little sailfin is a voracious hunter.

I have access to live brine this week so I'll try that as well (though he has moved again, so I'll have to find him again this morning).

As for price he was mis-labeled as a 'Flasher Wrasse' for $39. Though for the cost of this guy I wouldn't recommend him for people that like to see their fish... I kinda like the recluses, but I'm in the minority I think. :D
 
Anyone certain these guys aren't veggie-eaters?

Had a nice mat of red-brillo macro and some red 'valonia' bush and both have been reduced to scraps in the week this guy has been in the tank.

Purely speculation... I can't find him again and don't feel like tearing apart the tank, so I over-feed instead... :|
 
No dead body floating around... no ammonia, nitrite or nitrate spikes... AND I keep finding things bumped-over or dug up overnight.

I assume he is still living, but apparently I provide too many hiding spots (or my theory regarding its powers of invisibility is on the mark). Wednesday morning I think I am going to add a few more small pieces of LR to the reef-scape, I'll try to locate him again then. ;)
 
E-mailed the Marine Center and groveled for info on diet, habitat and habits... ;)

I'll let you know if/when they reply.

Peter: Is that supposed to be a 'Red Banded Dottyback,' Belonepterygion fasciolatum or just another really cool and rare red fish?

What German I can speak is limited to "Wo ist die WC," "Ich sprechen ein bischen Duetsch" and other survival phrases that remain after taking Duetsch for 5 years in high school and college with no reinforcement afterwards. It's sad how little I can remember off-hand...
 
I tried fishbase again and nothing on the diet. I looked at the old thread and saw you could'nt find it, I typed in Genus and sp. I don't know how to post a link or I would, something new to learn.
 
DensityMan, no this is not the same fish as yours. First time at one of our best german dealers. Was on the list as an new Anthias ROTFL. Looks interessting and I will try to get some for one of my "secret fish" tanks :)
 
I like the white flag on the dorsal fin of that fish, though I think you are correct in laughing... doesn't strike me much as an anthias either... ;)

(I love mis-labeled fish) :D
 
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